GA took the retained business after its advising position on Gaming VC’s AIM flotation last year was threatened after a three-way pitch involving M: Communications and Financial Dynamics. GA directors Mark Lunn and Robert Speed will lead the account and report to Gaming VC CEO Steve Barlow.

Gaming VC was set up in 2004 and incorporated in Luxembourg to acquire Casinos International, which also trades under the name The Casino Club –it is one of the biggest online casinos in the German-speaking market. The flotation of Gaming VC raised £81m on AIM, with the firm’s market value reaching £200m in under six weeks.

Gaming VC’s listing allowed the firm’s anonymous German founder to sell to a group of Americans led by former IBM/Lotus manager Barlow, who subsequently became the group’s chief executive.

A recent survey for online gambling firm 888.com and gambling magazine Inside Edge claimed the amount of money staked online had risen by 577 per cent since 2003.